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samsandy

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 28, 2011
64
0
New Zealand
I looking at learning how to develop for the iPhone and i was wondering how hard it is to learn the language and how long it takes to pick it up well enough to start making apps and games.
Thanks :)
 
It depends on what your background is and how quickly you take to water.

But I'll tell you now, it's not as simple as dragging a few things around and clicking a few buttons.
 
Our new programmers all have proficiency with C as well as some object oriented techniques before we hire them. It takes typically 6 months before they can contribute in any meaningful way on a project, and another year after that before they can take a lead role.

Go through the Stanford podcasts as if you are a student, doing all the exercises, and you will get a pretty good idea of the basics.

-t
 
It's like finding the center of a tootsie roll pop.. you just have to try and see. Everyone is different. You will never regret trying to learn a new skill. Well maybe chainsaw juggling.
 
Our new programmers all have proficiency with C as well as some object oriented techniques before we hire them. It takes typically 6 months before they can contribute in any meaningful way on a project, and another year after that before they can take a lead role.

Go through the Stanford podcasts as if you are a student, doing all the exercises, and you will get a pretty good idea of the basics.

-t

Thanks for that will look at those podcasts.
 
It's like finding the center of a tootsie roll pop.. you just have to try and see. Everyone is different. You will never regret trying to learn a new skill. Well maybe chainsaw juggling.

Thanks. I'm sitting in the airport and everyone is looking funny at me after i burst out in laughter... :)
 
I looking at learning how to develop for the iPhone and i was wondering how hard it is to learn the language and how long it takes to pick it up well enough to start making apps and games.
Thanks :)

Most professional programmers spend at least 4 years at a university learning the subject. Some flunk out or switch majors. But some really smart kids learn enough in a couple intensive months to get by. Which category fits you?
 
Most professional programmers spend at least 4 years at a university learning the subject. Some flunk out or switch majors. But some really smart kids learn enough in a couple intensive months to get by. Which category fits you?

Not to mention the dropout rate, Comp Sci / MIS was really high when I went to college.
 
Not to mention the dropout rate, Comp Sci / MIS was really high when I went to college.

Mine was the same. At least 1/3 after first semester, and the same again after second semester. But most of those who made it to second year continued on through to the end.
 
IMHO knowing something about the target market/application is also very helpful. If you are writing a financial application you need to know something about finance, etc...

How you build apps will also depend on what kind of apps you want to write. e.g. If you want to write games you may be better off learning Lua http://blog.anscamobile.com/2010/04/lua-the-lingua-franca-of-iphone-games/ rather than Cocoa/Objective-C.

samsandy tell us a bit about yourself, what do you know, how do you learn and what kind of apps interest you.

B
 
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